Saturday, March 31, 2012

Gulfstream Today: 3.30.12

Pinch Pie returned from more than a four-month layoff in winning form in the featured seventh race. The Anthony Dutrow-trained 4-year-old filly stalked the early pace in the $54,600 optional claiming allowance before surging under jockey Javier Castellano in the stretch to prevail by three quarters of a length.

Pinch Pie had concluded her 2011 campaign with three graded-stakes appearances, including a third-place finish in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga.


The daughter of Victory Gallop ran a mile on turf in 1:35.90 to capture her fourth victory in seven starts on grass in. Gitchee Goomie, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, made a late run to finish second, another three quarters of a lengths ahead of Sassy’s Dream and jockey Manoel Cruz.

Quote of the Day: “When I asked her, she took off. She gave me a high gear and responded so well. She galloped out real strong. She ran phenomenal. I never rode her before and I love the way she did it,” said Gulfstream Park’s leading jockey Javier Castellano after riding Pinch Pie to victory by three quarters of a length.

Work of the Day: Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Alpha prepped for next weekend’s Wood Memorial (G1) with a half-mile breeze in :49.17 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Who’s Hot: Javier Castellano padded his meet-leading total to 109 with two wins, scoring back-to-back aboard Pinch Pie ($5.80) in the eighth and Sweet Cat ($4.40) in the ninth. Manoel Cruz came up with bookend wins with winning rides in the first aboard Real Dingo ($3.60) in the first and Namron ($16.20) in the 10th.

Eight-time defending titlist Todd Pletcher extended his lead in the trainer standings with a pair of victories, saddling Tommy T V ($6) and Sweet Cat ($4.40) for victories in the fifth and ninth races, respectively.

10-cent Rainbow 6 carryover: $556,413.26

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